Portal flow and mitochondrial function during extrahepatic cholestasis.

This study was designed to determine portal blood flow and mitochondrial and hepatic function during extrahepatic obstruction. Twenty-two male Wistar rats which had undergone bile duct ligation were compared 7 days later to 20 sham-operated controls. Portal flow and mitochondrial respiratory control ratio were reduced by 50% and 35%, respectively (P less than 0.01), and serum alanine-aminotransferase levels increased significantly (P less than 0.01) in the extrahepatic cholestatic group. These results suggest that cholestasis may cause an imbalance between the energy supply and the high demand of the liver leading to a state of partial ischemia.